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DNA Favorites Blog
This is Richard Hill, founder of DNA Favorites. I don't write long, detailed blogs. My blogging style matches that of my website: clear, concise summaries with links to learn more.
I typically share these posts to my DNA Favorites Facebook page and to my RichardHillDNA accounts on Bluesky, X,and LinkedIn. You can follow me in whatever medium you prefer.
Sep 04, 2026
See the "Finding Your Roots" Season 13 Lineup
Season 13 of ‘Finding Your Roots,’ hosted by Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr., premieres Jan. 12, 2027, on PBS. Guests include Noah Wyle, Bette Midler, Rita Moreno, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Ashley Judd, and more.
Continue reading "See the "Finding Your Roots" Season 13 Lineup"
Sep 02, 2026
Compare the Best DNA Tests for Genealogy
An independent comparison of the strengths and limitations of AncestryDNA, 23andMe, FamilyTreeDNA, MyHeritage DNA, and Living DNA.
Aug 31, 2026
Ideal Paths for Learning about Genealogy & DNA
FamilyTreeWebinars has introduced Learning Paths, step-by-step routes through 2,800+ genealogy webinars, including 325 on DNA testing.
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Aug 28, 2026
Holocaust Descendant Finds Relatives Around the World
DNA led a woman who thought her family was killed in the Holocaust to meet relatives she didn’t know existed.
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Aug 26, 2026
Upgrade Family Finder to NGS
Family Finder has switched to next-generation sequencing. Learn what’s changed and how to upgrade your existing results.
Aug 24, 2026
New: Y-DNA Analysis on MyHeritage
Male customers taking the MyHeritage autosomal DNA test get a new bonus: See your Y-DNA haplogroup. For me, it was more precise than the haplogroup reported by 23andMe or Family Finder.
Aug 21, 2026
Preview the New GEDmatch Interface
A new interface is coming to GEDmatch. See a preview, try the beta test version, and lock in Tier 1 pricing before the September 1 increase.
Aug 19, 2026
DNA Resources for Adoptees
Learn how to find birth parents and siblings through DNA testing. Explore more than 75 links to adoptee resources.
Aug 17, 2026
Big Changes at FamilyTreeDNA
The autosomal unlock for transferred DNA files at FamilyTreeDNA is being discontinued on August 18th. The new Family Finder NGS test provides substantially more coverage than a transfer test, and an upgrade will be offered at a special price beginning on the 18th.
Aug 14, 2026
The Secrets In My DNA: Genetic Genealogy and Adoption
In this episode of the Legacy Tree Podcast, Sarah Stoddard, an advanced researcher at Legacy Tree Genealogists, sat down with Richard Hill, the founder of DNA Favorites and a pioneer in the field. Together, they explored the emotional rollercoaster of DNA discovery and how technology is turning “family secrets” into “family history.”
Continue reading "The Secrets In My DNA: Genetic Genealogy and Adoption"
Aug 12, 2026
Woman Gets Adopted for a Second Time After Finding Her Biological Dad
A man and the 46-year-old daughter he didn't know existed for most of his life were preparing to celebrate a special Father's Day together, thanks to a DNA discovery.
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Aug 10, 2026
Ancestry Updates DNA Match Relationships
To provide more precise and accurate relationship predictions, the AncestryDNA test has been updated to better understand how people are connected. Learn which relationships are affected and why they changed.
Aug 07, 2026
Half-Siblings Discovered thru DNA Lead to Lawsuit
Lawsuit alleges former OBGYN inseminated woman with his sperm without her consent, while she was seeking fertility treatment from him in the early 1980s.
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Aug 05, 2026
DNA Leads to Long Lost Dad after 57-Year Search
A woman who spent a lifetime trying to track down her lost dad finally found him, thanks to a DNA detective.
Continue reading "DNA Leads to Long Lost Dad after 57-Year Search"
Aug 03, 2026
An Explosion of New Tree Tools
Jonny Perl of DNA Painter provides a great overview of the many web-based tree tools for family history and genetic genealogy.
Jul 31, 2026
Accidental DNA Test Revealed Three Brothers
When his niece received an extra DNA test, this adopted man learned for the first time at age 64 that he had three brothers who grew up less than an hour away.
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Jul 29, 2026
The Reinvented 23andMe
There are many new features at the DNA testing company 23andMe. Plus, many of their best tools require a subscription. Kitty Cooper shares her experience in this blog post.
Jul 27, 2026
Women Bond as "Sperm Sisters"
Natasha, Gemma and Helen grew up believing they knew who their dads were. Decades later, DNA tests revealed they were all conceived by the same Welsh sperm donor.
Jul 24, 2026
Compare the Best DNA Tests for Genealogy
An independent comparison of the strengths and limitations of AncestryDNA, 23andMe, FamilyTreeDNA, MyHeritage DNA, and Living DNA.
Jul 22, 2026
A Rare But Plausible DNA Discovery
Lots of men find out through a DNA test that they are not the father of their child. But what if it was the woman who discovered she was not the mother?
Jul 20, 2026
Surprise: This McGrath Isn't Irish
For decades, many adoptees were never told about their adoption. Now their children are taking DNA tests and discovering surprises in their family trees.
Jul 17, 2026
Chromato: A New DNA Comparison Tool
This new tool from YSEQ generates a fast and detailed comparison between two DNA files. You can try it here.
Jul 15, 2026
Helping Korean Adoptees Find Biological Families through DNA
This mixed-race daughter Korea tried to send away is helping adoptees return home. She now heads 325KAMRA, a nonprofit organization.
Continue reading "Helping Korean Adoptees Find Biological Families through DNA"
Jul 13, 2026
Need a Speaker on a DNA Testing Topic?
If you belong to a library or genealogy group, I have five different presentations on genetic genealogy, including my updated "Comparing DNA Ethnicity Estimates".
This site is designed for educational purposes only. The author is not engaged in rendering medical or legal advice.
Copyright © 2025 Richard Hill